CHRONICLE FILE PHOTOSidney Howell, left, works on homework in Martha Olovson's fifth grade class at Reeths-Puffer Intermediate School on Jan. 18. Olovson and Tom Rescigno have teamed up to teach all girls and all boys fifth grade classes. The students are in separate classrooms until 10:20 when they get snack time together.

It used to be the only way you could attend a class in an all-girl or all-boy environment was in a private academy, and then only in high school.

The teachers of the two classes believe it gives girls self-confidence and self-esteem while it gives the boys time to mature and become organized students. They also say it allows them to tailor their instructional methods for the different ways girls' and boys' brains are wired.

So would you put your child in a same-sex class if you had the chance? Post your comments below.